Ball feeding device

ABSTRACT

A ball feeding device is disclosed that includes a trigger and feeder disposed at least partially inside a housing. The trigger may be actuated by simulating the athletic motion required to propel an athletic projectile such as a baseball, tennis ball or hockey puck by striking a wand or disrupting a beam. The feeder is actuated by the trigger to introduce an athletic projectile into a propelling device. A control member assists in reducing premature or multiple projection of projectiles for each trigger activation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a device for feeding baseballs,footballs, tennis balls or other “athletic projectiles” into apropelling device. The invention also relates to a device that may betriggered by simulating the normal motion for propelling (throwing,hitting, striking,) an athletic projectile without actually throwing,hitting or striking the projectile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are several devices that exist for projecting baseballs,softballs, tennis balls, footballs or other “athletic projectiles”. Theathletic projectiles are propelled by various means including but notlimited to mechanical arms, rotating wheels and air pressure. Examplesof these devices include machines from Juggs and Atec.

[0003] There are also several means of feeding the “athleticprojectiles” into the propelling devices. For instance, the athleticprojectile may be fed by hand, magazine, or tube. The feeding device maybe triggered manually, electronically, or by other well known triggeringmeans.

[0004] Problems exist with various feeding devices. For instance,premature or unintended release of the projectile into the propellingdevice not only wastes time, but can be dangerous. Many feeding devicesdo not easily allow for the simulation of the throwing or hitting motionto coincide with the release and projection of the ball. Thus, a needexists to provide realistic training where one person can trigger theprojection of the ball using a simulated throwing or hitting motionwithout premature or multiple releases of the projectile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] For an extended period, Applicant has been experimenting withvarious designs that allow for simulated throwing actuation withoutpremature or multiple release. Applicant's earlier designs hadoccasional premature and multiple releases of the projectile. Althoughpremature and multiple releases may not be eliminated, the presentinventive system significantly reduces the potential for premature andmultiple releases

[0006] The invention provides a device for feeding athletic projectilesinto a propelling device that may be triggered by simulating the naturalthrowing, hitting or striking motion of an athlete that reduces thefatigue and increases accuracy. For instance, the invention may betriggered by the hand of a pitcher as he reaches the release point inhis pitching motion without ever throwing the ball. Instead, the pitcherhits the wand or breaks an electronic beam.

[0007] The preferred inventive feeding device includes a housing, atrigger preferably disposed, at least partially, inside the housing, anda feeder that is also preferably disposed at least partially inside thehousing.

[0008] The trigger actuates the feeder. The trigger is adapted to beactivated by the natural motion of a pitcher, tennis player, hockeyplayer or other athlete in propelling an athletic projectile. Thetrigger may use manual, electrical, electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic orother actuation apparatus to trigger the feeding device.

[0009] The feeder is preferably disposed below and partially inside thehousing. It is used to place and control the placement of the athleticprojectile into the propelling device. The feeder also limits the numberof projectiles that can be projected by the propelling device pertriggering cycle of the device. This limitation helps prevent unexpectedand potentially dangerous projection of more than one projectile persimulated movement or activation.

[0010] The invention is helpful in reducing physical stress on baseballcoaches, tennis teaching professionals and other athletic instructorswho are called upon to repetitively throw or hit balls. As a result, theinvention is also helpful in preparing an athlete for games or matchesbecause the propelling device is triggered by simulating the actualathletic motion and can consistently deliver the projectile undergame-like conditions. The accuracy and consistency of the speed andpositioning of the projectile is improved because the projectile ispropelled from a machine and not a tiring coach or other athleticprofessional.

[0011] This section is intended to discuss some of the problemsassociated with presently available athletic projectile feeding devicesand how the present invention solves those problems. It is not meant tobe exhaustive of the problems or solutions. Instead it is intended toshow that there is a need for improvement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is an environmental side view of the preferred feedingdevice in the post release position.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the preferred feedingdevice in the pre release position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] A preferred feeding device 2 is shown in FIG. 1. The device 2includes a housing 10, a feeder 20 that is actuated by the trigger 30both of which are at least partially disposed in the housing 10.

[0015] The preferred housing 10 includes a tube 11 that flows from asubstantially vertical section 12 into a substantially horizontalsection 13. The preferred housing also includes a support wedge 14, aguide 16, a control block 18 and a slot 19. The tube 11 holds theprojectiles to be propelled.

[0016] The preferred feeder 20 includes a rod 22, a spring housing 24disposed on the rod 22, a spring 26 disposed between the housing 24 andthe guide 16 and an end washer 28.

[0017] The preferred trigger 30 includes a post 32, a cross pin 34, awand 36 disposed at the top of the post 32, a ramp 38 disposed on top ofthe housing10 and a retainer system 39 disposed on the post 32 below thewedge14. The post 32 is disposed through the wedge 14 and is adapted toengage spring housing 24. The pin 34 is connected to the post 32 belowthe wand 36 and is adapted to ride up the ramp 38 when the post 32 isturned. The end of the post 32 and the retainer system 39 are adapted toengage the spring housing 24 to hold the feeder 10 in the pre-releaseposition.

[0018] The preferred control 50 is disposed in the housing slot 19 underthe tube 11. The control 50 is pivotally connected to the housing block18, is connected to the feeder rod 22 by an extension 40 and is biasconnected to the horizontal end 13 of the tube 11 by the retainer 42.

[0019] The control 50 preferably includes two wheels 52, a ball stop 54and a safety 56. The wheels 52 reduce the potential for misfiring andmultiple misfiring when the control 50 is in the released position shownin FIG. 1. The wheels 52 prevent the other balls from reaching thepre-firing position 5.

[0020] The ball stop 54 reduces the potential for misfiring and multiplemisfiring when the control 50 is in the prerelease—“ready tofire”—position shown in FIG. 2. The use of stop 54 (whether part of oradded to the control 50) limits one ball to the pre-filing position 5.The preferred stop may be adjusted depending on the projectile size.

[0021] The length and shape of the control 50 may also assist inlimiting one ball to be in the prerelease position 5. For Instance, thelength and shape can be limited to an area equal to between the diameterof 1 ball to less than the diameter of 2 balls. That arrangement wouldhelp prevent multiple firings.

[0022] The safety 56 assists in preventing both misfiring and multiplemisfiring should the stop 54 fail.

[0023] The preferred propelling device 60 is a motor driven device thatuses two wheels 62 and 64 to propel baseballs, tennis balls and otherlike athletic projectiles. A Juggs™ machine is an example of thepreferred propelling device 60. Other propelling devices 60 such as apneumatic tennis ball machines and the like may also be used.

[0024] The preferred device 2 is mechanical. However the feeder 20,trigger 30 and control 50 may include different mechanical or additionalelectrical, electronic or hydraulic components or a combination of suchcomponents to accomplish the intended function of the device 2 withoutdeviating from the invention

[0025] The preferred inventive feeding device 10 operates as follows.Balls are loaded into the tube 11. The device 2 is then placed into thepre release position where the control 50 is horizontal.

[0026] The trigger 30 is then actuated. Preferably the trigger 30 isactuated by a pitcher simulating a throw where his hand hits the wand 36at the typical pitching release point. The wand 36 rotates the rod 32 sothat the pin 34 rides up the ramp 38 which releases the spring 26.Releasing the spring 26 causes the control 50 to pivot. As the control50 pivots the first ball is pushed into or allowed to roll into thepropelling machine 60 and the second ball is held on the wheels 52 whichprevents the second ball from releasing.

[0027] Next, the device is placed back into the firing position.Preferably, the rod 22 is pushed in using the washer 28 so that thetrigger post 32 re-engages the spring housing 24. The second ball thenrolls into the pre-release position and is prevented from rolling intothe propelling device 60 by the stop 54 and possibly the safety 56 ifthe stop 54 fails.

[0028] The description of the preferred embodiment is intended to showthe inventor's preferred method of making and practicing his invention.It is not intended to show every potential variation of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for feeding an athletic projectile into a propelling device comprising: a) a tube; b) a trigger disposed near the tube adapted to be actuated by simulating the motion used to propel the projectile; c) a feeder disposed adjacent the propelling device and actuated by the trigger; d) a control actuated by the feeder to limit the number of projectiles that are introduced into the propelling device.
 2. A method for feeding athletic projectiles into a propelling device comprising the steps of: a) loading a projectile into feeder; b) simulating a motion for propelling an athletic projectile; c) tripping a trigger by the simulated motion; d) activating a control member to allow a projectile into the propelling device and to prevent any other projectile from entering the propelling device; and e) projecting the projectile. 